On Thursday, September 11, a chairman of a French parliamentary committee investigating the psychological impact of TikTok on minors announced that he has requested prosecutors to launch a criminal investigation, citing concerns that the platform may pose a “threat to life safety” for adolescent users.
The committee, established in March this year, released its findings and recommendations on September 11. Socialist Party member, Arthur Delaporte, stated in an interview with French radio station franceinfo, “The conclusion is clear: TikTok deliberately jeopardizes the health and lives of its users. Therefore, I have decided to refer this case to the Paris prosecutor.”
Delaporte added, “In my view, this involves criminal activities, including complicity. Furthermore, when TikTok executives testified, they claimed to have no knowledge of the situation… I believe this also constitutes perjury.” The decision to file charges will be left to the prosecutor.
A TikTok spokesperson responded to Reuters, saying, “We strongly refute the misleading conclusions of this committee, which is scapegoating our company for issues confronting the entire industry and society.” The spokesperson emphasized that the platform has “strict” policies in place to safeguard the safety of minors, including parental controls.
The parliamentary committee stemmed from a lawsuit in 2024, where seven families accused TikTok of exposing their children to content promoting suicide. The investigation report recommended banning social media use for those under 15 years old, and implementing curfews for adolescents aged 15 to 18, restricting them from accessing the platform between 10 pm and 8 am.
According to Reuters, TikTok and other social media platforms have long faced scrutiny over content moderation issues. Several countries, including Australia and some European nations, have taken measures or are considering restrictions on minors using social media.
These investigative findings could potentially drive legislative action at the European Union level, especially given French President Macron’s public support in June for a full ban on social media use for those under 15 years old. This stance comes in the wake of a tragic incident where a student was fatally stabbed on a school campus in eastern France, raising concerns about adolescent online safety.